Reversible dispenser and closure for containers



y 4, 1965 c. J. HALES 3,181,744

REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 15, 1963CARLOS J. HALES Hun.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,181,744 REVERSIBLE DISPENSER ANDCLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Carlos J. Hales, 5512 E. 5th St., Tulsa, Okla.Filed Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 273,108 6 Claims. (Cl. 222539) Thisinvention relates to a reversible dispensing spout and closure for fluidcontainers. More specifically, the invention relates to a combineddispensing spout and cap, combined with an adaptor for an opening influid containers such as gasoline, paint, and the like.

Dispensing and closure apparatus heretofore used for fluid containerscomprised a multiplicity of separate parts to carry out either function.Such parts usually become lost, and therefore become difficult to keepin conjunction with the fluid container to which it pertains.Additionally, the elements are a costly portion of the overall containercost.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a reversibledispenser and closure apparatus for fluid containers which overcomes theobjections to devices heretofore used.

Another object of this invention is to provide the combination of afixed adaptor and a reversible dispenser and closure element which canbe readily attached to fluid containers for use therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reversible dispenserand closure element for filllld containers which includes parts whichcannot be lost or separated and which permits the device to be readilypositioned for dispensing the fluids from the container without leakagearound the seal and further permits the opening to be closed and sealed.

These and other objects of this invention will become readily apparentupon further reading of the description and claims when taken inconjunction with the following illustrations, of which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the apparatus of this invention, partlyin cross-section.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of this inventionin the closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of this inventionin the dispensing position.

Referring now to the various views, the numeral 10 generally designatesthe reversible dispenser and closure portion, while the numeral 12generally designates the fixed adapter for portion 10. The adaptor 12includes an upper flange element 14 and a lower flange element 16separated by a peripheral groove 18 and one or more key insets 19. Inthis embodiment the groove 18 and inset 19 is adapted to permit aplastic adaptor to be snapped into and fixed in a circular openingprovided in the container 20, the rest of the container not being shown.The adaptor includes a lower cylindrical skirt 22 which includesinternal threads 24 adjacent the lower end of the adaptor 12. Betweenthe lower threads and the flange portion are a multiplicity of openings26 for passage of fluid from the container 20.

The reversible dispenser and closure portion 10 includes a first uppercircular threaded portion 30 and a second lower threaded portion 32, thethreads of each matching the internally threaded portion 24 of adaptor12. An intermediate cylinder 34 is attached to and separates the upperand lower threaded portions 30 and 32 and includes a multiplicity ofopenings 36. The length of the intermediate cylindrical port-ion 34 issuch that when sealingly positioned with respect to adaptor 12 in thedispensing position fluids from the container will pass through adaptoropenings 26, thence through openings 36 in the cylinder into thedispensing spout 38 which is in fluid ice communication therewith. Thelower threaded portion 32 is closed by bottom portion 40 to become aclosure or cap with respect to adapter 12 as is more specificallydescribed in FIGURE 2. Intermediate the upper and lower threadedportions 30 and 3-2 is a coaxial gasket or washer member 42 which isadapted to be moved between the upper and lower limits of theintermediate cylinder 34. The gasket 42 forms an important feature ofthis invention as it is adapted to provide the seal for the reversibledispenser and closure portion when either in the dispensing or closedposition with respect to the adaptor 12, which is specifically shown inFIGURES 2 and 3. In other words, the internal diameter of gasket 42 isslightly larger than the outer diameter of intermediate cylinder 34 andis slightly larger in its outer diameter than the internal opening 23 ofthe adaptor 12.

Preferably, the parts of this invention are molded or formed fromplastic materials comprising three basic parts, i.e. the reversibledispenser and closure portion 10, the adaptor 12, and the gasket 42.Although it is. to be understood that a metal can be used to form one ormore of the elements. For example, in the construction of container 20'it may be desirable to stamp or form as a part thereof the adaptorportion 12, whereas the reversible dispenser and closure portion 10 canbe constructed of metal or of plastic to be used in connectiontherewith. Gasket or washer 4-2 may be a rubber or a plastic materialsuflicient to provide the wedge seal shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In the construction of the reversible portion 10 it has been found thatelements 30 and 38 can be formed separately as can elements 32 and 34.Thereafter a washer element is positioned over intermediate cylinder 34and the two parts welded or in some manner joined which may be aremovable joint at or near a point designated by the numeral 45, or nearpoint 47.

Although this invention has been described with reference to specificand preferred embodiments, it will be apparent, however, that manymodifications can be made Without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, the adaptor 12 can be formed to be attached tovarious sizes and shapes of container openings such as found in existingbottles, jars, jugs, or cans. According-ly, this invention should beconstrued not to be limited to the embodiment herein described butshould be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A flow dispenser and closure for fluid containers comprising incombination,

a tubular adaptor internally recessed from a wall of said container toreceive a reversible dispenser and closure member;

said adaptor including:

(a) an internal bore terminating with an internally threaded portionadjacent the innermost end of said adaptor, and

(b) said adaptor perforated in that portion between said container walland said threaded portion;

said reversible dispenser and closure including:

(a) a first externally threaded portion terminating its end with adispensing means,

(b) a second externally threaded portion closed at its end,

(0) said first and second portions spaced by and retained to anintermediate perforated tubular member; and

a gasket coaxially received about said intermediate member to movebetween said first and second portions and seal one of said first andsecond portions to said adaptor when the other of said first and secondportions is in threaded engagement with said internally threaded portionof said adaptor,

2. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein saidadaptor includes m ans to be snapped into and retained fixed within acircular opening in said container wall.

3. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the lengthof said intermediate pre-forated tubular member between said first andsecond portions is at least equal and slightly longer than that portionof said adaptor between said container wall and said threaded portion.

4. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein saidinternally and externally threaded portions are matching.

5. A flow dispenser and closure as defined in claim 1 wherein saidadaptor and said dispenser and closure, and said gasket are plastics.

6. A flow dispenser and closure for fluid containers comprising incombination,

a tubular adaptor internally recessed from a wall of said container toreceive a reversible dispenser and closure member;

said adaptor including:

(a) an internal bore terminating with fastener means adjacent theinnermost end of said adaptor, and

(b) said adaptor perforated in that portion between said container walland said fastener means;

said reversible dispenser and closure including:

(a) a first portion cooperatively engageable with said fastener means ofsaid adaptor terminating its end with a dispensing means,

([2) a second portion cooperatively engageable with said fastener meansof said adaptor and closed at its end,

(0) said first and second portions spaced by and retained to anintermediate perforated tubular member; and

a gasket coaxially received about said intermediate member to movebetween said first and second portions and seal one of said first andsecond portions of said adaptor when the other of said first and secondportions is in engagement with said fastener means of said adaptor.

Reierences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 356,529 1/87Dreyer 222-539 X 680,684 8/01 Beatty 222-569 X 2,705,581 4/55 Mack 222-542 X 2,826,343 3/58 Albiani 222539 2,980,300 4/61 Waddingto-n et a l.222538 X 3,021,037 2/ 62 Parker 222498 3,052,256 9/62 Smirles 222539 XFOREIGN PATENTS 226,142 12/ 5 8 Australia. 129,868 10/32 Austria.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

1. A FLOW DISPENSER AND CLOSURE FOR FLUID CONTAINERS COMPRISING INCOMBINATION, A TUBULAR ADAPTOR INTERNALLY RECESSED FROM A WALL OF SAIDCONTAINER TO RECEIVE A REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE MEMBER; SAIDADAPTOR INCLUDING: (A) AN INTERNAL BORE TERMINATING WITH AN INTERNALLYTHREADED PORTION ADJACENT THE INNERMOST END OF SAID ADAPTOR, AND (B)SAID ADAPTOR PERFORATED IN THAT PORTION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WALL ANDSAID THREADED PORTION; SAID REVERSIBLE DISPENSER AND CLOSURE INCLUDING:(A) A FIRST EXTERNALLY THREADED PORTION TERMINATING ITS END WITH ADISPENSING MEANS, (B) A SECOND EXTERNALLY THREADED PORTION CLOSED AT ITSEND, (C) SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS SPACED BY AND RETAINED TO ANINTERMEDIATE PERFORATED TUBULAR MEMBER; AND A GASKET COAXIALLY RECEIVEDABOUT SAID INTERMEDIATE MEMBER TO MOVE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECONDPORTIONS AND SEAL ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS TO SAID ADAPTORWHEN THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS IS IN THREADEDENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR.